The City of Kitchener has implemented a new bylaw aimed at regulating lodging houses—shared living arrangements where tenants rent individual rooms while sharing common areas like kitchens or bathrooms. The Lodging House Bylaw is designed to improve safety, reduce nuisance issues, and establish clear guidelines for property owners and tenants. These changes are part of Kitchener’s broader strategy to expand affordable housing options in the city while ensuring quality and safety for residents. The bylaw took effect as of January 1, 2025.
With the new bylaw now in place, those operating lodging houses will need to follow updated standards. However, the licensing process for owners will be streamlined and simplified.
What Is a Lodging House?
In Kitchener, a lodging house is defined as a dwelling unit where five or more renters, excluding the property owner, rent individual rooms, with shared spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. This setup allows for flexible living arrangements but with some important distinctions: lodging units do not feature private kitchens or bathrooms for individual tenants.
This type of housing includes some student residences but not group homes, hospitals, or hotels. The bylaw categorizes these as distinct from other housing types, specifically focusing on shared-living arrangements that can provide more affordable options while prioritizing health and safety.
Key Updates in the Bylaw
The new bylaw brings several critical changes to how lodging houses operate in Kitchener.
To streamline the process for lodging house operators, Kitchener has created an online portal for license applications and reduced the licensing fee to $750.
One of the key additions to the new regulations is the requirement for lodging house owners to designate a ‘Responsible Person’. This individual must be available to address any emergency within one hour and non-emergency issues within three hours. Property owners are also now required to display a Lodging House License and a Lodging House Handbook that outlines tenant rights and other important regulations.
With the new bylaw, owners of lodging houses must maintain safe, well-kept properties that comply with multiple levels of legislation. This includes meeting the Ontario Building Code, Ontario Fire Code, and municipal laws surrounding zoning, noise, parking, and property standards. Lodging houses will need to undergo fire safety and property standard inspections as part of the licensing process, helping ensure that these homes meet the necessary health and safety regulations. For example, owners must:
- Ensure that working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed in all relevant areas.
- Maintain the property in line with all fire safety requirements.
- Have adequate measures in place to deal with waste and yard maintenance.
Failure to comply can result in fines, penalties, or other enforcement actions.
Tenants are also given a more structured legal framework, and will have access to protections under the Residential Tenancies Act, with individual lease agreements now required. The City has created online systems where renters can alert authorities about hazards or conditions that don’t meet the established standards.
The Impact on Affordable Housing
The introduction of this bylaw aims to provide Kitchener with a regulated means of expanding housing options, allowing for a more flexible housing mix across residential areas. The intent is to create more affordable, shared-living spaces without sacrificing safety or quality.
By updating the licensing system and making it easier for property owners to comply with the regulations, the City hopes to make lodging houses a more accessible, reliable housing option. The bylaw is in line with Kitchener’s Housing for All strategy, which focuses on increasing the variety of available housing types across the city while ensuring high standards of safety and maintenance.